08-22-2007, 09:43 AM
I finally broke down and abandoned some of my more outlandish ideas for chain plates and bought standard "mending plates" out of fairly heavy steel. A quick trip to the grinder to round over the corners (one of my safety concerns) and I've got them temporarially on the boat.
My question is whether I should put a third mounting hole into them. The bottom bolt is well into the meat of the chain plates, but the top one ended up between the top of the chain plate and the hull/deck stringer. When I (eventually) put on the toe rail, where there's a hole currently, that will go through the rail. The top of the chain plates will then be about 1 1/2" above the top of the rail.
Any thoughts?
![[Image: ChainPlates1.gif]](http://www.floatingbear.ca/SailingFiles/Weekender/ChainPlates1.gif)
My question is whether I should put a third mounting hole into them. The bottom bolt is well into the meat of the chain plates, but the top one ended up between the top of the chain plate and the hull/deck stringer. When I (eventually) put on the toe rail, where there's a hole currently, that will go through the rail. The top of the chain plates will then be about 1 1/2" above the top of the rail.
Any thoughts?